title: Analysis of the P wave with signal averaging to assess the risk of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery.
abstract: P wave signal averaging was performed in 91 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting to detect patients at risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). Sixteen patients (17.5%) developed AF after surgery. The P wave duration on the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (ECG) and on surface ECG was prolonged in AF patients compared to others (respectively 141 +/- 12 vs. 132 +/- 12 ms and 124 +/- 9 vs. 113 +/- 9 ms). The root mean square voltages (RMS) of the total P wave were not different between the two groups; the RMS of the late portion of the P wave (late RMS) was significantly higher (0.25 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.17 +/- 0.10 microV) and the RMS of the first 110 ms of the P wave (early RMS) significantly lower (0.88 +/- 0.28 vs. 1.09 +/- 0.33 microV) in AF. The late/ early RMS ratio was different (0.29 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.17 +/- 0.11). In a multivariate analysis only age and the late/early RMS ratio were predictive for AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dimmer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jordaens
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gorgov
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peene
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: François
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Nooten
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Clement
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012306:Risk; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted